New volunteers always welcome

Classes start this week for two area maritime organizations, offering volunteers multiple ways to contribute.

Tuesday night, Inland Seas launches its instructor training series with the first of 12 Tuesday evening classes held at Glenn Loomis Elementary School in Traverse City. On Thursday evening, the Maritime Heritage Alliance begins a series of five basic crew classes at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center. Subsequent classes will be held twice a month through March.

Both organizations round out the training in the spring with on the water experience in their respective schooners: the Inland Seas schoolship for the Suttons Bay-based organization and a reconstruction of the 19th Century Madeline for the alliance.

Volunteers form the backbone of each program and the annual training helps boost the roster for a busy sailing season.

"We have about 200 volunteers but we're always looking for more people," said Tom Kelly, founder and executive director of Inland Seas Education Association.

The Inland Seas training begins with an introduction to the organization's on-water classes in Great Lakes ecology, which have reached 79,000 students in 20 years. Subsequent instructor training covers topics including the Great Lakes and global freshwater, water chemistry, plankton, fishes, stewardship and teaching strategies.

"We basically train these folks what to teach and how to teach it," Kelly said. "What we ask for people to bring with them, which we can't provide, is their enthusiasm and their commitment to protecting the Great Lakes through education. Also, to make a difference in these kids' lives because it can be a transforming experience."

For the past 26 years, the Maritime Heritage Alliance's educational mission has revolved around interpreting history through ships built or restored by volunteers. Trained crewmembers take weekly shifts throughout the summer to sail the ships around the Great Lakes and promote the distinct heritage.

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